Robert Munro

Born in Ross-shire in 1835, Robert Munro trained in medicine at the University of Edinburgh and spent part of his career as a physician in Kilmarnock. Over time, archaeology became his main field, and he built a reputation as a careful investigator of prehistoric Europe, especially crannogs and other lake-dwelling sites.

He wrote a number of books and lectures on prehistoric life, including works on lake dwellings, prehistoric Scotland and Britain, and early human settlement in Europe. His writing helped turn specialist research into readable accounts for a wider audience, which is a big reason his books still attract interested listeners and readers.

Munro died in 1920. His standing in the field is reflected in the Munro Lectures in Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Edinburgh, which were named in his honor.